Game feed

ABSTRACT

A food block has been prepared for quail. Although this bird thrives on the block, said block is relatively unattractive to other birds and to animals.

O Unlted States Patent [151 3,660,104 Godbold 1 May 2, 1972 54] GAMEFEED 3,022,218 2/1962 Sherman ..99/2 x 3,035,920 5/1962 (72] Inventor.Roy Herman Godbold, Marfa, Tex. 3,175,536 3/1965 U [73] Assignee:Godbold, lnc., Marfa, Tex. 3,279,923 10/1966 Bauer et al ..99/2

22 F] d: M r. 14 1969 l 1 le 8 Primary Examiner-Norman Yudkofi' PP N05807,424 Assistant Examiner-Kenneth Van Wyck Attorney-Littlepage,Quaintance, Wray & Aisenberg [52] U.S.CI. ..99/4, 99/2 R, 99/6,

99/ l 7 [57] ABSTRACT g zifl' 'g gg 1 5233 A food block has beenprepared for quail. Although this bird thrives on the block, said blockis relatively unattractive to other birds and to animals. [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,532,503 lo/ 1 970 Kvlesitis..99/6

1 Claim, No Drawings GAME FEED BACKGROUND Quail, such as scaled quailand bobwhite quail, are found throughout much of the United States.Texas alone has more than a million hunters. A survey conducted by theBureau of the Census in 1960 showed that 32 l ,000 quail hunters bagged9.8 million birds, most of which were'bobwhites. Quail supplies manyhours of recreation and many pounds of meat for outdoorsmen.

During the winter, quail assemble in large coveys which often include100 birds. Since quail travels a very short distance, e.g. V4 to 1.5miles, from its roosting site during the winter months, food supply isan important factor which effects both survival and reproduction. Whenfood supply is short during the winter and spring months, thereproduction rate of wild quail can decline materially.

Quail thrives on a variety of foods and a balanced diet. A study ofbobwhite quail showed a consistent weight loss and many deaths fromdiets composed of single foods, such as corn, sorghum, sunflower, sanddropseed, Johnson grass and pigweed, all of which are eaten in quantityby quail. A balanced diet is a material consideration.

SUMMARY A food block has been prepared for the feeding of quail.Although it serves a useful purpose throughout the year, it is ofparticular advantage when other quail food is in short supply, e.g.during winter and early spring. Not only do quail thrive on this .foodblock, but their reproductive rate is increased. Moreover, the matingtime of wild quail which feed on said block is actually advanced; thisis beneficial. The food block is comprised of soy bean meal, phosphate,e.g. dicalcium phosphate, molasses and binder; said block may besupplemented with Vitamin A and/or antibiotics.

It is an object of this invention to provide a means of feeding quail. Afurther object is to prepare a food block on which quail can thrive.Another object is to increase the reproduction of quail. A still furtherobject is to formulate a food block which is attractive to quail, butnot generally to other birds or to wild animals. it is also an object toprepare a food block in such a way that it will withstand exposure tothe elements particularly during winter months in areas where quaillive. Additional objects are apparent from the description herein provided.

DESCRIPTION Quail multiply in good years of abundant feed. in dry yearsthese birds die off and fail to reproduce. lf quail are supplementedduring the critical time, their livability can be greatly increased, aswell as their reproductive rate. Unfortunately, it is difficult to feedwild quail because other birds and wild animals, particularly rodents,consume the feed.

A high protein feed which satisfies the requirements for wild quail hasbeen formulated and prepared in block form. [Feed which contains atleast 25 percent (by weight) protein is regarded as high protein feed.]One 25-pound block of this feed will feed one hundred quail forapproximately 23 days in the most severe part of winter and spring. Thisis possible because other birds and mammals, such as rodents, do not eatthe block.

I A typical formulation comprises from 80 to 85 percent by weight ofsoybean meal (also referred to as soybean oil meal), from 3 to 6 percentby weight of phosphate, from to 10 percent by weight of molasses andfrom 2.5 to 5 percent by weight of binder. in addition, a vitamin premixcan be incorporated in the formulation to provide up to 20,000 units(per pound of block) of Vitamin A; from 0 to 1.5 percent by weight offat can be added; and an antibiotic, e.g. chlorotetracycline l00 gramsper ton), may be added.

The soybean meal has a high protein content, e.g. from 41 to 44 percentby weight (based on the total weight of soybean meal), and is a standardcommodity of commerce. in any given lot the particle size ordinarilyvaries from about oneeighth inch in diameter to dust. For the subjectinvention it is preferred to have meal with particles having a diameterof approximately one-sixteenth inch and a minimum of dust. Soybean mealhaving 50 percent protein is ordinarily ground to a flour; such a fineparticle size is not desirable.

it is preferred to maintain the fat content of the soybean meal at alevel of at most 2 percent by weight (based on the weight of the soybeanmeal). A higher fat content encourages rodents, such as rabbits, fieldmice and ground squirrels, to eat the block. Excessive fat causes theblock to crumble when exposed to the elements and lessens palatabilityto quail.

The soybean oil meal may be-replaced at least in part by otheringredients having comparable nutritional value for quail. Each blockpreferably has a soybean oil meal content of at least 60 percent byweight. It is essential that the food block provide a primarily balanceddiet for quail and attract virtually only quail from the wild life thatmay have access to it. Thoroughly cooked soybean meal is virtually thebest substitute for protein supplements of animal origin. Today, allsoybean meal is cooked. Although the quality of the quail feed would bereduced, up to 25 percent by weight of the soybean meal could bereplaced by cottonseed meal. Replacing soybean meal (up to 35 percent byweight) with peanut meal increases the risk of attracting rodents.Replacing soybean meal with fish meal and or meat scraps also results inattracting rodents and also causes the block to be unstable (if used inlarge amounts) because of the increased fat content.

The phosphate can be dicalcium phosphate or any other phosphate suitableas a feed supplement, e.g. defluorinated phosphate. it is preferred touse a phosphate with a calciumzphosphorus ratio from 2:1 to 1:1 andwhich is digestible by poultry. The phosphate generally providesmineral, calcium and phosphorus required for egg production and generalquail health.

The molasses is preferably cane molasses of from 79.5 to 84 Brix. (TheBrix is merely a measure of total sugar and is not critical.) Any typeof molasses, e.g. beet and wood, can be used; in fact water and ligninsulfonate can be used as the binder without molasses. Blocks made withwater in place of molasses weather, crack and sometimes fail to hardencorrectly. As the amount of molasses is increased above 10 percent byweight, rodents are attracted to the resulting block. The actual amountof molasses employed is somewhat dependent on the particle size of thesoybean meal; the finer the particle size, the greater the amount ofmolasses. The particle size of soybean meal varies from shipment toshipment. Also, as the meal flows through to holding bins and machineryeach batch can vary.

It is necessary for the paddle mixer operator to recognize when more orless molasses is needed; after the feed is mixed with approximately thecorrect amount of molasses and steam has been added, a sample issqueezed in the hand; if the product sticks together in a very fragilelump, it is ready to block; if the material fails to make a fragile lumpand remains dry, more molasses should be added. The molasses usuallyvaries from 5 percent to 10 percent by weight of the mix. A

skilled operator can look at the material tumbling in the mixer and knowwhen the molasses content is correct.

The general rule is that the finer the soybean meal the more molasses.Molasses should be employed in as small a quantity as necessary toassist with the binding of the materials in the block. There may be anactual cooperation between the molasses and the binder, as is the casewhen lignin sulfonate is employed as binder. Lignin sulfonate, togetherwith the sugar in molasses and moisture from steam and from molasses,forms a most satisfactory block.

The preferred binder is lignin sulfonate. Although other binders, e.g.dextrin, guar gum, fermentation solubles, bentonite and solventextracted sunflower meal, can be employed; lignin sulfonate is preferredbecause it is not palatable to rodents.

As the lignin sulfonate calcium lignosuifonate, e.g. Stapel [product ofConsolidated Water Power and Paper Company vitamins to the food blockcomposition, a level of about 20,000 units (per pound of block) ofVitamin A is preferred in a supplementary feed for wild quail. This willprotect the birds when their consumption of the block is limited by theavailability of other feed in pastures. When no green feed is available,the presence of Vitamin A in the block is necessary for quailreproduction. Vitamin premixes are availablein many strengths and can bereadily obtained in a concentration that will provide the desiredconcentration in the finished block.

When the amount of fat in the soybean meal is below 2 percent by weight,it can be supplemented by the addition of fat from vegetable or animalorigin, e.g. palm oil, olive oil, lard and neatsfoot oil. Any fat can beused, but vegetable oil is preferred because of its availability. Thefat content of the block should be at least 0.5 percent by weight and,preferably, should not exceed 2 percent by weight. A block having a fatcontent of 1.5 percent by weight is most desirable. The fat contentshould be adequate to permit the block to slip through the formingchamber of the press in which the block is prepared. Ordinarily the fatcontent of" the soybean meal is adequate for this purpose and noadditional fat is necessary. It is important to maintain a low fatlevel. Excessive fat or oil may preclude the hardening of the resultingblock and attract rodents.

Antibiotics can be employed to improve the general health of quail andhatchability of eggs. For this purpose, for example, chlorotetracyclinehydrochloride could be employed in an amount to provide, e.g., 100 gramsper ton offeed block.

The size of the food block is not critical. Blocks can be prepared ofany size from, e.g., 5 pounds to 100 pounds and in any dimensions orshape. A 25-pound block is preferred in view of its feeding capacity, asindicated in the preceding discussion; the shape is a matter ofconvenience and practicality.

Feed blocks should be placed in the normal range of wild quail coveysand protected from livestock. (Livestock will eat the blocks.) Theblocks have the additional advantage of retaining coveys in a givenarea.

FORMULATIONS Ingredient Weight, pounds A. Soybean Meal 800 DicalciumPhosphate 60 Cane Molasses (79.5 Brix) 90 Lignin Sulfonate 45 HydrolyzedVegetable Oil 7 5 B. Soybean Meal 850 Defluorinated Phosphate 50 CaneMolasses (84 Brix) 50 Guar Meal 50 C. Soybean Meal 830 DicalciumPhosphate 40 Beet Molasses 70 Lignin Sulfonate 50 Animal Tallow l0 D.Soybean Meal 830 Curacao Phosphate 50 Cane Molasses (82 Brix) 100Dextrin 20 E. Soybean Meal 825 Dicalcium Phosphate 56.5 Cane Molasses(79.5 Brix) 61.5 Lignin Sulfonate 40 Vitamin A Premix (soybean meal andvitamin A palmitate mixed so as to contain 1,180,000 USP Units ofvitamin A per pound) 17 F. Soybean Meal 850 Steamed Bone Meal 30 CaneMolasses (84 Brix) 95 Fermentation Solubles 25 G. Soybean Meal 825Dicalcium Phosphate 60 Wood Molasses 60 Lignin Sulfonate 40 CottonseedOil and/or Soybean Oil H. Soybean Meal 840 Dicalcium Phosphate 45 CaneMolasses (79.5 Brix) Solvent Extracted Sunflower Meal 35Chlorotetracycline Hydrochloride 50 grams (Soybeans are grown for theiroil content. After the oil is extracted with a suitable solvent, e.g.petroleum ether, a meal remains. This meal is of value for its proteincontent, which may be, e.g., from 41 to 44 percent by weight.Thethus-extracted soybean meal has a fat content of at most 2 percent byweight. Since the feedblock requires a-fat content of at least 0.5percent by weight and as much as 2 percent by weight is not detrimental,fat can be separately incorporated as an ingredient as in formulationsA, C and G.

PREPARATION OF BLOCK Each of the preceding formulations, e.g.formulation E, can be prepared into 25 pound blocks according to thefollowing procedure:

Mix all dry ingredients in a ribbon mixer. (A vertical mixer canalternatively be employed.) Introduce the ingredients into the mixerwhile the mixer is running and continue the mixing for three minutesafter the last ingredient is added.

Convey resulting dry mixed ingredients to a horizontal paddle mixer.With the mixer running and with the mixed dry ingredients in it, add themolasses to said dry ingredients. This is done by injecting steam in themolasses line just prior to the entry of the molasses into the paddlemixer. (The steam is preferably at a temperature of from 323 to 337 F,but this temperature range is not critical.) After the molasses has beenadded, continue to steam the feed in, the mixer for three minutes.[Sufficient steam is added to raise the temperature of the mix about 15F.]

The thus-prepared feed is now ready for blocking. Charge it throughautomatic scales to a block press. (Theblo ck press has a formingchamber with a square cross-section, each edge of which is 8.5 inches.)Exert sufficient pressure on the material in the block press so that thelength of the block (25 pounds) ejected therefrom is ten inches. Abutfive minutes after the block is ejected, it will measure about 10.75inches in length due to stretch or expansion. Each block should bewarehoused for 24 hours before shipping.

The invention and its advantages are readily understood and appreciatedfrom the preceding description, and it is apparent that various changesmay be made in the procedure, formulation and product without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing its materialadvantages, the procedures, formulations and products hereinbeforedescribed being merely illustrative of preferred embodiments of saidinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of feeding quail a feed block which consists of from 60 topercent by weight of high-protein vegetable meal, from 3 to 6 percent byweight of assimilatable phosphate, from. 5 to 10 percent by weight ofmolasses, from 2.5. to 5 percent by weight of binder, from 0 percent byweight to a pharmacologically acceptable level of vitamin and from 0percent by weight to a pharmacologically acceptable level of antibiotic;the high-protein vegetable meal being constituted by soybean meal and atmost one member selected from the group consisting of cottonseed mealand peanut meal, the cottonseed meal being from O to 25 percent byweight based on the total weight of high-protein vegetable meal andthepeanut meal being from 0 to 35 percent by weight based on the totalweight'of high-protein vegetable meal; the phosphate being digestible bypoultry; the binder being selected from the group consisting of ligninsulfonate, dextrin, guar gum, fermentation solubles, bentonite andsolvent-extracted sunflower meal; the feed block containing at least 25percent by weight of protein and being prepared by a method comprising:

a. introducing all dry ingredients into a mixer while the mixer isrunning and continuing the mixing after all such ingredients are in themixer;

has been added to raise the temperature of such feed by about [5F; d.charging a weighed amount of the thus-prepared feed to a block press andthus-preparing the feed block.

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